Pedal Power applauds vision, looks for $$ in Libs’ bike plan

Pedal Power ACT has welcomed the release of the Canberra Liberals’ cycling plan for the ACT.

“I’m pleased to see that the Liberals are willing to commit to a dedicated 10 year plan for cycling in the ACT. It shows some real vision and an understanding of the diversity that cycling is and its impact upon a city,” said Pedal Power CEO John Armstrong.

Armstrong said that he applauds Alistair Coe’s responsiveness to calls from the cycling community for an official announcement about policies regarding cycling issues and infrastructure in the ACT region. Yet he notes that the announcement comes without a budget or financial commitment attached to it.

“I’d like to see some dollars attached to these policies,” said Armstrong of the announcement.

“The Greens have committed over $80 million to their cycling related policy over 4 years, and Labor have committed $4.5m above their current level of expenditure.

“I look forward to hearing more about the budget that the Canberra Liberals would commit to cycling education and infrastructure if they are elected next weekend.

“A commitment of funds attached to this policy platform would place the Liberals’ plan high in the regard of the many bike riders within the ACT.”

“I’d like to see some dollars attached to these policies,”
Why would anybody need to show figures attached to election promises? Labor has set the precedent with un-costed promises for light rail. Why should a cycling infrastructure policy have to be shown as affordable when apparently most of Canberra, including Pedal Power A.C.T, already gave the green light to a project that has no limits? If Liberals must announce budget figures for this, then Labor/Greens have to give us at least an estimate [to the nearest billion dollars will suffice] of the cost to ratepayers for the next stage/s of the tram project.

To be fair, that is the only uncosted policy from Labor or Greens, the rest have all been costed. Some of the Libs policies have been costed but an alarmingly large number have not.

“I’d like to see some dollars attached to these policies,”
Why would anybody need to show figures attached to election promises? Labor has set the precedent with un-costed promises for light rail. Why should a cycling infrastructure policy have to be shown as affordable when apparently most of Canberra, including Pedal Power A.C.T, already gave the green light to a project that has no limits? If Liberals must announce budget figures for this, then Labor/Greens have to give us at least an estimate [to the nearest billion dollars will suffice] of the cost to ratepayers for the next stage/s of the tram project.

I would vote for a policy that all costings for the election need to be released before prepolling is open. I specifically won’t be voting until the I see the Liberal’s costing on Tuesday (prepolling because I am away on the weekend).

“I’d like to see some dollars attached to these policies,”
Why would anybody need to show figures attached to election promises? Labor has set the precedent with un-costed promises for light rail. Why should a cycling infrastructure policy have to be shown as affordable when apparently most of Canberra, including Pedal Power A.C.T, already gave the green light to a project that has no limits? If Liberals must announce budget figures for this, then Labor/Greens have to give us at least an estimate [to the nearest billion dollars will suffice] of the cost to ratepayers for the next stage/s of the tram project.